Within psychodynamic therapy the concept of Countertransference is considered as valuable to understand the therapy process. Much of the research has focused on Countertransference as dependent to therapy outcome (Hayes, Gelso & Hummel, 2011) and less of the research has been dedicated to trainees view on the concept. The object off this study was to examine how trainees define, identify and use Countertransference. The study takes a qualitative approach and phenomenological perception of knowledge. Eight trainees has been interviewed and the interviews has been analysed with thematic analysis.

There are differences today amongst psychoanalysts regarding if psychoanalysis should limit itself to being exclusively a hermeneutic discipline or if psychoanalysis should find points of contact with neurobiology. The purpose of this essay is to touch upon the larger issue that creates the different points of view: Can psychoanalysis become enriched by finding points of contact with neurobiology, and should psychoanalysis be regarded as belonging to a broader scientific field than being exclusively a human science? The question at issue is: Can modern neurobiology contribute to a development of the psychoanalytic concepts; compulsion to repeat, transference/Countertransference and talking cure? The method used is a literature study. The result shows that: Freud?s theories regarding traumatic compulsion to repeat can be linked with LeDoux?s theory of "emotional memory".